As part of the Government of Guyana’s efforts to expand dental and oral health care services across the country, the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday launched the country’s first Dental Laboratory Technician Programme, a MoH release stated.
It explained that the programme which will be overseen by MoH’s Health Sciences Division, inducted 13 students from Region Four to be trained over eighteen months. They will receive training in the area of dental prosthetics at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School in Georgetown.
Yesterday, at the Ministry of Health’s Conference Room, the Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, attended the launch of the programme.
Speaking at the launch in the ministry’s conference room, Anthony highlighted that provisions are being made to expand dental and oral health care services across the country. He disclosed that the six regional hospitals currently being constructed will have designated areas dedicated to dental practice.
Further, with the new Paediatric and Maternal Hospital, some of the paediatric functions currently being performed at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School will be transferred to the new hospital.
“We’re also in the process of building a new Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle, right now at the Dental School you do a lot of paediatric dental procedures but now we’ll have a specialised hospital for paediatrics where everything relating to paediatrics would be done at this hospital. So, some of the functions that you currently have at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School would be moved to this new facility,” Anthony stated.
According to the Health Minister, substantial investments have been made over the years, resulting in a significant transformation at the Cheddi Jagan Dental School. The improvements include the addition of a pharmacy, renovations on the lower level with modern chairs, a new section for surgeries on the upper level, and an upgraded x-ray facility.
Meanwhile, MoH’s Principal Dental Officer, Dr Marvin Monize, spoke of the significance of the new training programme.
“This programme is designed to provide comprehensive training for individuals to design and fabricate dental prosthetics, an essential component in restoring function and aesthetics for those who have lost their teeth.”
Attendees at the programme launch included the Coordinator of the Dental Auxiliary Training Programme, Dr Collin Waterman; Head of the Prosthodontic Department, Dr Carlos Bruzon-Varoza; Assistant Coordinator of the Dental Auxiliary Training Programme, Vashantie Balwant-Bagot; and Senior Health Education Officer, Georgel Abrams.
